Who is Your Child’s Teacher?

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night Have a seat at your child’s desk. While you are waiting, write a 4th grade wish that you have for your child and leave it on their desk.

2. Bachelor of Arts in English, Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Master of Arts in Teaching Goucher College Baltimore, Maryland I have been a part of the Tarwater faculty since 1999. K-8 Certified Who is Your Child’s Teacher?

3. Building a Positive Classroom Community • Toro Targets: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Courage, Compassion • Tribes: Attentive Listening, Mutual Respect, Appreciation/No Put Downs, Right to Pass/Right to Participate • Classroom Rules: Listen Carefully, Follow Directions, Work Quietly/Do not Disturb Others, Respect Others, Respect School & Personal Property, Be on Time & Prepared for Class, Work & Play Safely

4. SET Posters • SET:Social and Emotional Targets (SET) will guide the process through which children develop awareness and management of their emotions, interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships, and decision making skills to achieve school and life success. There is a strong research base indicating that these competencies improve students’ social/emotional development, readiness to learn, classroom behavior, and academic performance. • Caring Classroom Community • Goal 1: Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success. • Goal 2: Use social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships. • Goal 3: Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school and community contexts. https://casel.org/what-is-sel/

5. Types of Instruction • Whole Group • The teacher provides direct instruction to the entire class. This type of instruction may be based on students’ needs. • Homogenous Groups • Students with common strengths or needs work together in small groups. • Cooperative Groups • Students work together on a project or task. This may be a mixed group of differing strengths and abilities. • Independent Activities • Students work alone to complete a task (journal writing, workbook pages, etc…).

6. English Language Arts Reading/ELA • Journeys • Vocabulary • Spelling (Spell grade-appropriate words correctly) • Grammar/Writing • Fluency (teacher read alouds, cold reads) • Comprehension • Log in through Infinite Campus to retrieve your texts.

7. Accelerated Reader • AR (Accelerated Reader):A program that monitors independent reading levels and reading comprehension • Set goals on quarterly goal sheet (80% average on tests, personal point goal), 3 week checks • Students do NOT necessarily need to take an AR test each week (encouraging reading longer, chapter books) • Current diagnostic reports and directions on how to check your child’s progress are behind your child’s “resource” tab.

8. Reading Makes a Difference

9. McGraw-Hill My Math This year, fourth grade students will work through the McGraw-Hill My Math program. This challenging program provides real-world applications, while balancing out conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application. Log on through Infinite Campus to retrieve your child’s textbook.

10. McGraw-Hill My Math

11. Science (Harcourt) Life Science (adaptations) Physical Science (energy & magnetism) Earth Science (natural disasters) 4th grade AIMS Science & Social Science • Regions and Cultures of the Americas (Pre-contact Americas up to European Settlements up to 1763.) • Civics (government structures, individual rights, roles, & responsibilities) • Economics (Compare different industries, occupations, and resources as well as different forms of income earned or received that have shaped the Americas.) • Geography (Americas, trade and exploration routes, the location of civilizations and societies in the Americas.) • History (Olmec, Maya, Inca, Aztec, American Indians living in the North Americas before and after European exploration.) • Arizona History (brief introduction)

12. Text Books On-Line • Log onto Infinite Campus • Click on CUSD Student Links for Available Texts. • Journeys and My Math directions are on our class webpage. All passwords will be recorded and stored on a passwords page in your child’s “Important Binder.”

13. Grade Issuing Guidelines

14. Behavior Guidelines

15. Homework • My Math will come home Monday - Thursday. Review each problem with your child for accuracy and detail. • Daily reading is required homework. Your fourth grader set an Accelerated Reader point goal for first quarter, as well as a nightly page goal. • Spelling lists will be posted on Spelling City. Directions on how to access lists are in your child’s Important Binder (behind “resources”). Tests are on Fridays. • Sign the bottom of your child’s daily agenda when all homework is complete. Your signature essential. It verifies that your child’s homework is complete. This includes daily reading.

16. Communication • “Important Binder” Keep student work in the binder until the end of the quarter. • Tabs for each subject (graded work) • AR goals Binders go home and come back to school EVERY DAY! • “Important Folder” • Check daily • Agenda • There is a spot at the bottom of each daily column for you to sign. • Quarterly Progress and Report Cards • Communication (e-mails, notes & phone calls) mitchell.dawn@cusd80.com

17. Volunteer in our Classroom! Parent Volunteers Volunteers are always welcome in 4th grade! • Field Trips • Art Masterpiece • Please sign the volunteer papers on the back table. • Volunteers must have a volunteer form on file in the office. • Don’t forget to sign in at the office!

18. Audubon Arizona Science is Fun Arizona Science Center Arizona Science Lab Thank you for your Tax Credit Donation. The Musical Instrument Museum Child’s Play Theater

19. Fourth Grade Procedures & Policies • Birthdays (volunteer needed for class directory) • Health Assistant & Bathroom Visits • Class Schedule • 6 day rotation (Know our PE & library days. Schedule is posted on website.) • Behavior & Discipline • Clip chart-ability to move up and down (Outstanding Jar) • Reflection Slips • Absences (please call the attendance line at 480-883-4303)

20. Thank You for Coming to Curriculum Night!